LOVE TOKENS

The inscribed examples are unmistakably love tokens but we
should still appreciate the skill and artwork involved.

The “Bender” love tokens are perhaps not so obvious.It is thought that a young man would prove
his love to his young lady by physically bending a coin in front on her.Often this was done on sixpences but
occasionally we see it on gold coins and copper coins.The theory is that if the young man gives the
coin to the young lady and she keeps (treasures) it,
then he’s a happy soul (and hopefully so is she).If she takes it and throws it away into the
field, then maybe it’s time to move on to pastures new!The old Nursery Rhyme about the man finding a
“crooked sixpence” was maybe based on finding a discarded bender love token?

The “Gem-Insert” later Victorian types epitomise the
sentimental period from which they emanate.

WU-5482:1672-94 American
“Elephant” Copper Merchant Token.Obverse hand engraved, “RALPH SHARROCK 1731”.The
Baldwin St James auction # 15 (lot 267) had a similar grade coin estimated at
£700 BEFORE their 20% commission charges.A rare, early American coin with an early American
inscription.Further research
needed.£495

WCA-5956:1689 William & Mary
Silver Half Crown – Momento Mori.Hand engraved on the obverse, “S.S. 1802” and
on the reverse, “S.S.” within a pair of funerary urns.This, and several other engraved coins, would
have been given out to relatives and guests of S.S. upon his or her funeral in
1802.An interesting
insight into the social practices of over 200 years ago.£95

WG-5731:1820 George III Silver
Crown – Birthing Token.Hand
engraved, “ANN WILLIAMS.THE GIFT OF MY GRANDMOTHER.MAR 30th 1832”.It was
the tradition at this period in time to bestow a gift of silver in the form of
a coin upon a newly born child.There is
a rather interesting display on such things in the Victoria
& AlbertMuseum,
London.With an exact date and a name, this should
prove relatively easy to research.Sold with an old auction write-up.£175

WG-5960:1806 George III Copper
Halfpenny – USA (New York) Interest.A well used (and travelled?) George III copper halfpenny with a crude
hand engraved inscription reading, “MY HOME NEW YORK WILL ALWAYS BE”.In addition, the owner has added an unusual
contrasting brass loop in order for this to be worn as a pendant.Could this have been in the pocket of one of
the early English people migrating to the US?£99

George
IV

WG-5483:1821 George IV Full
Silver Crown – Love Token.SECVNDO edge, very nice grade.Hand engraved “BEATRICE” on the obverse.This is most likely a Birthing token and
would have been engraved in 1821 to commemorate the birth of Beatrice.It was the tradition at this period in time
to bestow a gift of silver in the form of a coin upon a newly born child.There is a rather interesting display on such
things in the Victoria & AlbertMuseum, London.An interesting insight into
English Georgian customs.£98

WV-5642:1862 Queen Victoria
Penny – MRS COLE – Suffragette Movement!!A standard 1862 bronze penny with the obverse image of Queen Victoria
modified to represent Mrs Cole, complete with bonnet, glasses etc.The legend, “MRS COLE” has been engraved on
the obverse before the bust.Mrs Cole
was a leading character in the play, “HOW THE VOTE WAS WON” by Cicely Hamilton
in 1909 this this piece has THEATRE connections too.A very important piece of
British social history that deserves to be in a museum.£295